Arts and Culture

A popular soul singer of the 1960s from St. Louis has died, according to KTVI-TV in St. Louis. Fontella Bass started singing on showboats in the St. Louis area and her early records were produced by Ike Turner. She started off with popularity only in the region, but her recording "Rescue Me" became a smash hit, reaching number one on the billboard charts for four weeks in October of 1965.

St. Louis' northernmost neighborhood is Baden. First settled by German immigrants and African-Americans near the turn of the last century, Baden today is populated by fewer people than in recent years. This depopulation is due to a complex mix of forces that include disinvestment, modest housing sizes, supply and demand. Those who remain in Baden are dug in and consider it a diamond in the rough. KBIA's Trevor Harris visited the St. Louis neighborhood of Baden for the 40-40 Project and filed this report.

Grass Roots Organizing and the Community, Faith, and Labor Groups of Mid-Missouri added a political twist to holiday caroling in Columbia Monday. Together they caroled outside the headquarters of several Missouri politicians urging them to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security as well as raise taxes for the wealthy. Listen to this audio postcard to hear the carolers lobbying with song.

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